Wednesday, February 18, 2009

IN 2006, A GROUP OF FRIENDS DECIDED TO MAKE A FILM ABOUT FILESHARING... AND THROUGH THE PIRATE BAY, WE WERE COPIED AND MULTIPLIED BEYOND OUR IMAGINATIONS. TODAY THE PIRATE BAY ARE ON TRIAL, AND WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THEM WITH THIS TRIAL EDITION OF STEAL THIS FILM. STF 'TRIAL EDITION' CONTAINS UNSEEN FOOTAGE, INCLUDING BROKEP AND TIAMO PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL, AND RE-ENACTMENTS OF THEIR POLICE INTERVIEWS. IT REPRESENTS 'STEAL THIS FILM 2.5', HALF WAY BETWEEN PART 2 AND THE 'FINAL CUT' WE ARE SHOOTING RIGHT NOW IN STOCKHOLM @ THE TRIAL. AFTER THIS RELEASE, WE WILL BE OFFERING IRREGULAR REPORTS ON THE TRIAL, WHICH WE'LL DISTRIBUTE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FRIENDS @ TORRENTFREAK. AS ALWAYS SHARE, REDISTRIBUTE AND REJOICE, DONATE IF YOU LIKE. WE ARE ALL ON TRIAL TODAY - BUT THE TIRED OLD MASTERS WILL NEVER WIN.LEAGUE OF NOBLE PEERS, FEBRUARY 2009. -

At conference after conference, the Yes Men try to wake up their corporate audiences to this frightening prospect, in the process taking on some of the world's biggest and baddest corporations. Just one example: as Exxon, Andy and Mike demonstrate a new biofuel made from climate-change victims. Its a gut-busting laugh riot - one of several in the film - to see the unsuspecting audience learn that the lit candles they hold are made out of dead people. On their journey, the Yes Men act as gonzo journalists, delving deep into the question of why we have given the market more power than any other institution to determine our direction as a society. They visit the twisted (and accidentally hilarious) underworld of the free-market think tanks, where they figure out a way to defeat the logic that's destroying our planet. And as they appear on the BBC before 300 million viewers, or before 1000 New Orleans contractors alongside Mayor Ray Nagin, the layers of lies are peeled back to reveal the raw heart of truth - a truth that brings with it hope. Hope explodes at the end of this film with a power that may take audiences straight out of the theater and into the barricades. A word of warning to theater owners: make sure your seats are securely screwed down. Bonus: this film has one of the very few underwater ballet scenes you will ever see in a political documentary.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Roll up, Roll up! Defend civil liberties and have a laugh at the same time, with Policewatch or Filming them Filming us Filming them etc It's yer once-in-a-lifetime chance to win War on Terror, the only game with suicide bombers, political kidnaps, intercontinental war, filthy propaganda, rampant paranoia and secret treaties....... All you have to do is send us your videos or photos of the British constabulary's finest moments. Why? On 16th February 2009 the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 comes into operation, which threatens to make it illegal to take a photo of a police officer, or to elicit information about them. So bang goes alerting people to cops spying on peaceful protestors, and bang, clunk go journalists investigating police corruption or malpractice. How? Fitwatch is launching a competition which will give a copy of the award-winning http://waronterrortheboardgame.com to the winner of each of three different categories: 1. Scary for the most shocking bit of police abuse recorded. Dixon of Dock Green it ain't! 2. Funny for the most piss-yourself classic copper moment. 3. Effective Did you make the police help you with your inquiries? - for the pictures which proved a case against the police or had most success in defending civil liberties (please tell us what it did). You can enter still images or video footage. Just post them on flickr (preferred for stills), blip.tv (preferred for video), youtube or anywhere else (please put the tags visionontv and fitwatch) then send us a link. We welcome images from anywhere in the world, but only the best of the British constabulary can win a prize. For more detailed stuff on how to make your images available, go to the bottom of this page. Where? On 16th February, the first day of the new legislation, http://visionon.tv Policewatch series commences. Films and photos submitted to the Fitwatch competition will feature in this series on visionOntv's grassroots channel. When? Closing date for entries: April 9th 2009 Winners declared: April 16th 2009 the two-month anniversary of the new legislation Who? http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com is a group of people who have come together to resist and oppose the tactics of the Forward Intelligence Teams (cops who harass protesters). We aim to act in solidarity with each other, supporting campaigns by being at meetings and protests, making it harder for the police to film and gather intelligence. We get in the way of their cameras, taking photos and publishing as much information as we can about them on our blog. http://visionon.tv is a new online TV station from http://www.undercurrents.org It has all the ease-of-use of mainstream TV, but with content that is very very different. To watch the whole of the Policewatch series, plus the best of activist video from around the world and a whole lot more, go to http://visionon.tv On this link you can watch the streaming version, but to get the full TV experience download the player app and enjoy! Please email info@visionontv.net for further info on the Policewatch series. If any police officer would like more information on the Policewatch competition, please contact http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com as it is not an organisation, and has no spokespeople. How? part 2 We strongly recommend giving your pictures a http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses so they can be distibuted as widely as possible. Please let us know which license you prefer. The creative commons license we advise choosing is Non-Commercial Share Alike which allows people to use your footage for anything non-commercial, and as long as they release it under the same license. That's what visionOntv puts its own films under. Come along now, you've had your fun!

Hosted by the National Union of Journalists and supported by the British Journal of Photography and the British Press Photographers Association. New Scotland Yard, Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H, UK. For those who may have missed all the fuss, this Act will make it a criminal offence to 'elicit' or publish information about police officers that is 'of a type' that can be used by terrorists. Already the police are gearing up for this, and are practising statements like 'you can't take pictures of us!'

It's yer once-in-a-lifetime chance to win War on Terror, the only game with suicide bombers, political kidnaps, intercontinental war, filthy propaganda, rampant paranoia and secret treaties.......

All you have to do is send us your videos or photos of the British constabulary's finest moments.

Why?

On 16th February 2009 the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 comes into operation, which threatens to make it illegal to take a photo of a police officer, or to “elicit information” about them. So bang goes alerting people to cops spying on peaceful protestors, and bang, clunk go journalists investigating police corruption or malpractice.

How?

Fitwatch is launching a competition which will give a copy of the award-winning http://waronterrortheboardgame.com/">“War on Terror” to the winner of each of three different categories:

Scary – for the most shocking bit of police abuse recorded. Dixon of Dock Green it ain't!

Funny – for the most piss-yourself classic copper moment.

Effective – Did you make the police help you with your inquiries? - for the pictures which proved a case against the police or had most success in defending civil liberties (please tell us what it did).

You can enter still images or video footage. Just post them on flickr (preferred for stills), blip.tv (preferred for video), youtube or anywhere else (please put the tags “visionontv” and “fitwatch”) – then send us a link.

We welcome images from anywhere in the world, but only the best of the British constabulary can win a prize.

For more detailed stuff on how to make your images available, go to the bottom of this page.

Where?

On 16th February, the first day of the new legislation, http://visionon.tv">visionOntv's Policewatch series commences.Films and photos submitted to the Fitwatch competition will feature in this series on visionOntv's grassroots channel.

When?

Closing date for entries:April 9th 2009

Winners declared:April 16th 2009 – the two-month anniversary of the new legislation

Who?

Fitwatch is a group of people who have come together to resist and oppose the tactics of the Forward Intelligence Teams (cops who harass protesters).

We aim to act in solidarity with each other, supporting campaigns by being at meetings and protests, making it harder for the police to film and gather intelligence.

We get in the way of their cameras, taking photos and publishing as much information as we can about them on our blog.

To watch the whole of the Policewatch series, plus the best of activist video from around the world and a whole lot more, go to http://visionon.tv">visionOntv.On this link you can watch the streaming version, but to get the full TV experience download the player app and enjoy!

If any police officer would like more information on the Policewatch competition, please contact Fitwatch, as it is not an organisation, and has no spokespeople.

How? part 2

We strongly recommend giving your pictures a http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses/">creative commons licensea>, so they can be distibuted as widely as possible. Please let us know which license you prefer.

The creative commons license we advise choosing is “Non-Commercial Share Alike” – which allows people to use your footage for anything non-commercial, and as long as they release it under the same license.That's what visionOntv puts its own films under.

Come along now, you've had your fun!

Defend civil liberties and have a laugh at the same time, with Policewatch

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Monday, February 09, 2009

'Independent media consultants at non-profit group Undercurrents worked with a firm of British solicitors and have used software and techniques that previously did not exist to enhance existing and some newly discovered video footage'.BBC NewsQuotes

Red Pepper (review of Mark Thomas Comedy DVD)'This DVD is a must see for those with a taste for progressive politics and cutting edge comedy'

New Internationalist' sizzling with cheeky radicalism......It’s radical, it’s not for profit, and it’s damned good'

Time out"The news you don’t see on the news"

ID"shockingly direct filming"

Big Issue London" Undercurrents is running courses on how activists can use video effectivley. The courses encourage people to think why they are filming in the first place"-

Big Issue Cymru"Their use of domestic camcorders enables them to film where the networks can’t or won’t"

BBC Wildlife Magazine"compulsory for those who write off the grassroots green movement as a bunch of unthinking anarcho dropouts"

IOV - Official publication of the Institute of Videographers -"Undercurrents is sure to be a winner with those who are looking for more than just the mainstream news service offered by the broadcaster"

Camcorder User"Undercurrents proves that if the mass media won’t cover environmental and social issues properly, someone with a camcorder will"

KinoKaze"video networking does more than just reach the converted....spreading the word via the image.....Undercurrents is simply the most media-sussed manifestation of this activity"

Morning Star'cramped but tidy office is packed with their weapons of revolt - a number of cameras hang from pegs, shelves are stocked with campaigning DVDs'

Camcorder User" video footage, shot in front of the police lines has been seen on national tv news, helping to promote the activists side of the story"

New Scientist"frontline reports from around the world....puts you in touch...in their own pictures as well as words...great for armchair revolutionaries."

The Guardian"Undercurrents is good news for British media ....shows the angles television news misses..essential viewing...Shocks, informs and exposes"

John Pilger"Undercurrents work is vital because in an age of media conformity, we need to hear more and more dissenting voices"

The Independent"Compelling viewing"

Danny Schechter, Author of The More you Watch, The Less You Know."We need Undercurrents in the overcurrents, we need this kind of coverage routinely in the news"

Frank Fisher, Production Editor, Internet Manager, Index on Censorship-"For 25 years Index has been cataloguing censorship and constraints on free expression throughout the world, yet right here in our own backyard censorship is flourishing - corporate gaggings, police targeting of journalists, a dumbed-down and blinkered news media; all of these things conspire to keep the truth hidden. And all of these forces for censorship have been exposed, relentlessly, by Undercurrents. They genuinely do report the news that others don't, and they report it with immediacy, veracity and a certain mischievous glee. The journalist Jon Snow once described Index on Censorship as a beacon around which hope and freedom rally; when we look out towards Undercurrents we see another beacon flickering back."

Times educational supplement (TES)"Since the only filming equipment is a video camera undercurrents journalists are highly mobile to cover breaking stories..the video succeeds in getting otherwise overlooked images to a public that is used to getting its news from centralised and tightly controlled sources"

Tony Benn, MP"I think Undercurrents is doing a marvellous job - you provide what we don’t see in the media, and with that little box of tricks you can beat Rupert Murdoch, CNN and NBC - and you’ve got to do it!"

Howard Mark, former Drug smuggler"The news the bastards don’t want you to see"

Times educational supplement (TES)"Reporting from a committed environmental perspective undercurrents is not constrained by the same requirements of balance as BBC or ITN news’ ‘if social action campaigners are arming themselves with video cameras it could soon mark a whole new meaning to the phrase "You’ve been framed"

The Law"in this age of media power its control by the few and influence upon the many, news service such as undercurrents play an increasingly important part in informing the public as to what is really going on out there"

Everywoman"films which bring you the news you will never see on the BBC"

i-D magazine"shot on camcorders by empowered individuals and campaign groups it draws together footage of grassroots protest right across the country"

London cyclist-"undercurrents takes the pulse of the dynamic non violent protest movements in Britain and beyond"

Mariella Frostrup, Presenter of ITV’s little picture show reviewing undercurrents" The rise of the camcorder means that people everywhere have access to news gathering equipment and can use it to record, harass and incriminate"

PACT magazine"when the media can’t see a story, protesters make their own images"

The Guardian"undercurrents is teaching activists how to deal with the media and how to use camcorders to their best effect"

Independent on Sunday"undercurrents pick up on events that the news industry wouldn’t find cost effective to cover"

Time out" If you don’t think the news represents your views film your own footage and flog it- that’s the motto of the undercurrents camcorder activists who are taking over TV"

New Statesman" undercurrents is running workshops on using cameras..this is ingenious DIY culture at

Monday, February 02, 2009

Bill Baird came and spoke at an event on the January 22, 2009 at an event celebrating the anniversary of Roe v Wade. Roe v Wade was the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Although I am a long time pro-choice activist, I am embarrassed to say I did not know much about Bill Baird. I would like to share with you what I learned.